and done. Didn't see that ending coming, well I did see Sun get the short end of the stick, but didn't see this end coming.

A completed Fo:E story there ain't hundred of thousand words long? I need to get in on this action!

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Just a bit of a short story! Hope you like it though!

Awesome ending! Although, I don't know if I'd want to be alive as a ghoul though.

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First off, thanks for giving it a read! But to answer your question, the idea of wanting to remove the counterfeiting is mostly because of who's doing it more than the average idea of de-valuing common currency through inflation. The problem stems from the fact that Sunsoft thought it was connected to Jerry and High Pillow, who as you now know, he despised. If anypony were to have an effectively limitless source of money which they could then use to spread their filthy touch throughout the wastes, he wouldn't want it to be those two.

But yeah, I'd wanted to do a small prequel to Better Days to show how Caltrop came to end up sad and depressed for PC to find him. I'd already been developing Sunsoft's story as just a short one shot, but after a long talk with Hnetu, who writes Fo:E - Treasure Hunting, I'd reworked my generic stallion lover of Sunsoft into being Caltrop, which honestly fit quite well. But then again, I didn't want to kill off Sunsoft, but I needed him out of the picture for the events of Better Days. Hense, why I went with the ending I did.

And while you might not want to live as a ghoul, that's generally not a choice a character gets to make! It just kinda happens, and you either accept it and move on, or lose your mind over it and go feral. But yeah, I don't mind ghouls as characters (you know, considering my OC is one!) and I don't have anything against making characters into them in stories!

Again though, thanks for giving this a read, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!

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You'really welcome! I kinda thought that's what was driving his investigation.

So, since since Sunsoft isstill alive, will we be seeing him in any future stories that may involve him potentially finding Caltrop again and the awkwardness that would ensue because of his relationship with PC?

As for the ghoul thing, I guess what I meant was that it's not a choice I would voluntarily make, but it would be something that I would accept if it did happen. I also don't have any dislike or disgust towards ghouls, as Applesnack is one of my favorite characters from the original FoE. So, with your OC being a ghoul, I have to ask: Is your OC still able to have and respond to sexual urges? Im genuinely curious about this. Feel free to slap me if I've crossed a line. lol

Again, it was an enjoyable read. Thanks for writing it!

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So, to answer the question of if we'll be seeing him in any future stories, all I have to say is: Thaaaaat's a secret!

As for the question on my OC, it's part of my own ghoul headcanon that yes, they still feel and need everything they did when they were 'alive', just in much less of a capacity than they used to. Food, drink, air, ghouls still need this, and more so than anything they need to relieve stress, lest they go insane. I've yet to reveal Gamma's backstory (which I've been slowly writing as a oneshot to release somewhere in the future) but he doesn't care for losing himself in activities like others might. He simply has devoted himself to helping out any random strangers he meets in a small way (whether it's a warm rug to a freezing stallion, a breakfast to a hungry mare, or some advice about love to a confused bounty hunter).

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That's what I figured with the possible future storylines.

Good to know that about ghouls, and also that you're planning a backstory for your OC in the future.

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Wow... I never thought of stress relief being that important to staying sane for ghouls. Stress relief is important enough to saying sane when we're alive. It makes sense that it would be even more important for ghouls.

So, stress relief, giving breakfast to a hungry mare, and advice about love, huh? Sounds like quite the smooth operator.

I wonder if Sunsoft ever got to see Caltrop again. Would Caltrop see him and think "Don't knock it until you try it"

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Well with how the events of Better Days play out for Caltrop, that's not exactly an easy question to answer! Though, maybe it can still be answered at some point in the future!

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I haven't read Better Days yet and I want to so bad but, I have to wait until at least next month to read it

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Well, the good news is that it's not going anywhere! But just to point out, Better Days is also a continuation of the same story series that Merchants of Hope is in, and it takes place after the events of the Long Winter. It's not required reading, but if you enjoyed Merchants of Hope, I suggest giving The Long Winter a read before you get to Better Days!

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I have read Merchants of Hope and liked it so I guess I will do as you said and read The Long Winter first and Better Days right after so much reading... I love it!

I love your stories and the collaborations that you do with other authors. Merchant of Hope rocked big time along with all the generational follow-ups.

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I'm glad you've been enjoying them! I'm doing my best to continue putting out fun stories, and I hope you continue to read them!

This was a blast! Love your character work, and the fic was engaging all the way through.

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I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!

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I'm glad you've been enjoying it!

Wow, that was a hell of an ending. c.c

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Thanks for reading, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!